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EAGLE QUILLS 



EAGLE QUILLS 



GEORGE FAUNCE WHITCOMB 




THE CORNHILL COMPANY 

BOSTON 



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Copyright, 1919, 

by 

THE CORNHILL COMPANY 



@)Cl.Ar):]5907 



NOV 2^J 1913 



To 
M. L. W. 



CONTENTS 

Page 

Fraternity i 

The Wayside Inn — 1918 3 

The Aviator 4 

The Cross of War 5 

Belgium 7 

Joan of Arc 8 

Alone in the Fog 10 

Human Seeds 11 

Life 12 

The Moulder 13 

The Master — ? 14 

Think Not of the Past 15 

Invocation 16 

Without Interruption 17 

An Answer 18 

Inscription on an Urn 19 

The Wooing 20 

Lips 21 

Smoke 22 



CONTENTS 

Page 

My Cigarette 24 

Fall 25 

The Gull 26 

Ants 27 

Sing 28 

The Crow 29 

A Phrase 30 

A Health 31 

To You 32 

Solitude 

According to the Naturalist 33 

According to the Widow 34 

According to the Bachelor 35 



EAGLE QUILLS 



FRATERNITY 

As I lounged in my study yesternight, 

While the old-fashioned grate poured forth its heat, 
With restfully quiet embers alight. 

My weary eyelids closed as if to meet 
The future brotherhood of man. 

Then, clear in frames of blood-stained, lifeless flesh. 

Appeared torn faces of war-crazed throngs 
Cursing, fighting, struggling, through barbed-wire 
mesh 
To gain their right to sing the song of songs. 
The righteous brotherhood of man. 

And, in the background of the fiendish strife. 
Huddled together with babes at their breast, 

Lay starved, naked women, slashed by the knife 
Of the hellish foe whose tortures attest 
They scorn the brotherhood of man. 

Then a burst of light outlining a star 
Shone into my aching soul like a sword. 

Bearing this message of strength from afar — 
** Strive unto death to make the barb'rous horde 
Respect the brotherhood of man." 

[I] 



EAGLE QUILLS 

The bitter cold of the morn awoke me, — 
Yet the joy of seeing God's beck'ning light 

Fired my veins, and the ling'ring memory 
Of the Bethlehem Star urged me to fight 
To save the brotherhood of man. 



[2] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



THE WAYSIDE INN— 1918 

One last visit to Sudbury town, 

To that inn where once were told 
Tales by men of great renown, \ 

And history was handed down. 

The cranes were swinging as of yore, 

O'er hearts begrimed with soot ; 
Still burn the huge logs, and the floor 
Still creaks as guests come through the door. 

Of stalwart men in buff and blue 

We still leave memory, 
And in their stead have come to view 
Sons of their sons in khaki hue. 

The old, old spirit still holds sway — 

The long hard fight to make men free ; 
The old-time yearning for the fray 
Still quickens hearts of men to-day. 

Farewell then, old inn, for a spell, 

I am off to join the ranks ! 
Some day I may come back and tell 
Great tales myself — if not — farewell. 



[3] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



THE AVIATOR 

Strong youth he was, still in his 'teens, 

When war clouds rumbled from on high, 
And pondering deeply what best means 

To serve his land — he chose to fly. 
Forthwith he gave his mind and strength 

To train acutely ear and eye — 
That he might prove his worth at length 

And win distinction in the sky. 

Each day he strove with all his might; 

Each night, when tests were done, he'd lie 
Awake with planning every flight 

Which he on future days would try — 
For those were times when each man's fight 

Must be swoop down low, then ply 
The foe with tools of death and night — 

To win distinction in the sky. 

But ere his training was complete 

A changing current rushing by — 
An instant flare of scorching heat — 

Engulfed his plane with whirring sigh, 
Swift to the earth, in pain he fell. 

But he uttered neither pain nor cry — 
The stars mayhap have heard his knell — 

Who won distinction in the sky. 

[4] 



EAGLE QUILLS 

THE CROSS OF WAR 

1913- 

Unto his cheerful homestead comes 
The young member of Parliament; 

A happy chap who always hums 

His home-song, where his love is spent 
Ah, light of the civilized world. 

1914. 

Unto the lonely homestead comes 

A weeping wife with children three — 

Her husband has followed the drums 
Of his regiment over the sea. 
Ah, slight of the civilized world. 

1915. 

Unto the anxious household came 
A message of the absent one. 

With sobs 'twas read, her husband's name 
Was there — "fell fighting at his gun." 
Ah, plight of the civilized world. 



[5] 



EAGLE QUILLS 
1916. 

Unto the cheerless household came 

A tiny box with medal red, 
Proclaiming loud its owner's fame — 

What recompense for loved one dead! 

Ah, blight of the civilized world. 

1917. 

Unto the saddened household came 
A message from a younger land ; 

"Have faith, we come to save your name, 
We come to lend a helping hand." 
Ah, fight of the civilized world. 

1918. 

Unto the waiting household comes 

The joyous peal of victory; 
Peace and rest are brought by the drums 

Of the men from over the sea. 

Ah, might of the civilized world. 



[6] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



BELGIUM 

If you had a sister, and, while she slept 
A hideous monster silently crept 

Up beside her to quench his vicious thirst; 

And, being repulsed, his passion was nursed 
To fury — he slashed her white neck across, 
A dastardly gash with a crimson gloss; 

Then dipped his foul hands in the sanguine flow 

And wiped them upon her soft tresses — so; 
If you had a sister — you have indeed — 
Belgium — the victim of Autocracy — 

What would you do — what will you do — we want 
to see! 



[7] 



EAGLE QUILLS 

JOAN OF ARC 
(From the French of Alfred de Musset) 

RECITATION 

In vain I seek the rest I lack, 
My heart is filled with the sorrow of France. 
Even from this drear spot of death-like trance 
My loved land's grief would draw me back. 

CHANT 

Sullen forest, retreat so aloof. 
Silent witness of such secret spleen, 
From my sight at least hide the dark proof 
Of my country's shame — its wretched scene. 
O saddened boughs, should we fail in the fight. 
Conceal with thy branches my father's roof — 
Perhaps I shall not see him again. 

RECITATION 

Quiet pervades the valley. 
The nightingale begins to rally 
His songs of sorrow and love. 
Already on the flowers descends 
The daylight from above. 

[8] 



EAGLE QUILLS 

What is the noise so loud and shrill? 
It is the bugle here beside our walls, 

I see the strange flag which rises and falls, 
Defiant on yonder hill. 



CHANT 

Have you forsaken us this day, 

Guardian angels of our country? 

Have pity, if God does not see — 

If he remembers, save us, pray. 

I thought I felt the whole earth jar, 

I thought the sky began to sway. 

And in a ray of light from afar 
A voice from the wood bidding me stay. 

It was not human, it was not mine. 

Mother of Christ, was it Thine? 
Didst Thou pity the tears that fell from my eyes? 

It was the Holy Ghost did fill me. 

I felt the forceful smart 
Of an avenging Deity 

Descend into my heart — 
In war. 



[9] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



ALONE IN THE FOG 

Do you ever like to walk through a night 
When the fog is dense and the rain 
Pours down in clouds from skies insane 

While all the world sleeps, devoid of sight? 

Alone you wander, while the dampness bites 

Clear into your lungs till they ache; 

Cutting membrane each breath you take; 
Yet deep in your soul burn sensitrve lights. 

Bright fires are kindled that heat up thought's sword 

With which you dissect each being 

Who blindly on earth tries keying 
His soul to the pitch of Infinite chord. 

Religion so cold, all routine and fear; 

Then commerce which varies each week; 

Oft changing the bold to the meek; 
And mothers' fond hopes, then suff'ring each year. 

Plainly you see the struggles and tangles 

Of women and men, mortal knaves. 

Yearning to reach, merely as slaves. 
The Land of Exemption from wrangles. 

Thus the whole world revolves — every cog 

Before your eyes — a wretched view. 

If you beUeve these facts untrue — 
Walk abroad some night, alone, in the fog! 

[10] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



HUMAN SEEDS 

We are all judged by our deeds, 

Be they small or great; 
For by them we plant the seeds 

Which are fondly nursed by Fate. 

So, like the plant, we mortals 
Arise from the deep abyss, 

Then open wide the portals 
Unsealed by a mother's kiss. 

Into the world we wander 
Marveling at awesome sights. 

Then when it darkens yonder 
Return from the dizzy heights. 

Soon come the storms upon us, 
And to stand the hardest blows 

We pray our God to shield us — 
To protect us from Life's snows. 

Storms in the form of sorrow. 
And storms in the form of woe, 

But sunshine on the morrow 
Warms each weary heart below. 

So straighten up, my brothers, 
Remember to whine is wrong; 

Come dry your eyes, dear mothers. 
And cheer the world with your song. 

[II] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



LIFE 



A cupful of thankful tears at your birth; 

A cupful of loving smiles through your youth ; 
A cupful of hope when you're proving your worth, 

And a mother's blessing beside. 

A cupful of courage when things look bleak; 

A cupful of prayer when you wander afar; 
A cupful of fear when your grip 's growing weak; 

And a mother's blessing beside. 

A cupful of friendship while fortune reigns; 

A cupful of pain when you love ; 
Then cupfuls of earth to hide your remains ; 

And a mother's blessing beside. 



[12] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



THE MOULDER 

Hark ye, mortals of earth, I am the crater 

Within ev'ry soul, yet few really know- 
That without my hot lava none would be greater 
Than cold chunks of clay which never could grow. 

There would not be book, nor legend, nor verse; 

No great inventions, no bridges of steel; 
No dark tunnels, tall buildings, nor money's foul 
curse — 

Yet these things exist for I live, I am real. 

To some, I admit I'm more partial than others ; 

Bestowing on these the power to write ; 
For babes, still unborn, I evolve loving mothers ; 

And some to perjure their souls I incite — 
For behold— I AM THOUGHT. 



[13] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



THE MASTER—? 

The silhouette of man, behold, 

A shadow from an earthen mould; 

Hard, ungrateful, yet a master 
Of all the world since days of old. 

Arising slow from some consent 
Of love or passion violent 

He thrives, nor pauses once to think 
He might have been an accident. 

He straightway yearns to press the lips 
Of Fame, yet e'er she yields, she dips 

His being in a seething cup 
Of Pride, and while he feels it, slips 

The chair of Fortune from his side. 
His shame, thus moved, he tries to hide 

Behind the veil of penitence 
And seeks to heal his wounded Pride. 

The silhouette of man behold, 

A shadow from an earthen mould. 

And, tho', a master of the world. 
He's ne'er one of himself till cold. 



[14] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



THINK NOT OF THE PAST 

Happiness, though subUme, oft leads us far apace, 
Heedless of our duty to all the human race, 
We spent such pleasant hours in revelries last night 
The morrow we ignored which brought new cares 
to light. 
And thus one day was lost — it will not come again — 
What pity we could not have turned it all to gain. 

So think not of the past, to-morrow has its hours, 

But mind you use them well, and open all your doors 
Of kindness, bounty, joy for ev'ry one around 
To share and glory in— let all their praise resound. 

'Tis sometimes just a word that changes their whole 
life, 

And makes the weak ones stronger to carry on their 

strife. 



[IS] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



INVOCATION 

Thy eyes are passion's blue, 

Yet soft and pure, 
Thy Ups are crimson hue, 

Thy mien demure. 

Thou art my goddess fair. 

Near thee I feel 
The warmth of virtue rare — 

Thy holy seal. 

I pray ere death to gain 
The longed-for right 

To love thee and attain 
Thy crown of light. 



[i6] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



WITHOUT INTERRUPTION 

My loved one has fallen asleep, 

Tired and full of care, 
So I quietly rise and creep 

Down to my favorite chair — 
Without interruption. 

My pen and cigarettes are near, 
Waiting my coming it would seem. 

Waiting to woo a smile or tear. 
Or merely a fond dream: — 
Without interruption. 

Two hours, perchance, have thus passed by. 
When I hear a sound on the stair — 

A rustle of silk and a step so shy. 
Planning to take me unaware — 
Without interruption! 

I pretend I do not hear her. 

But my heart beats happily. 
For my loved one's drawing nearer — 

How empty my life would be 
Without interruption ! 



[17] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



AN ANSWER 

Distance holds perils past our ken, 

And letters are empty at best; 
Won't you forget the trifles and then 

See how useless is all your unrest? 

You should know by the love which I gave, 
Love growing stronger each day; 

You should know by our love, so save 
Your tears, dear, save them I pray. 

Distance holds perils past our ken 
And letters are but futile qualms ; 

Forgive my thoughtless errors and then 
Enfold me once more in your arms. 



[i8] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



INSCRIPTION ON AN URN 

Marvelous mistress of love, you seemed 

Always to entrance anew 
With some sweet, subtle fancy which you dreamed 

And then by your art have made come true. 

You bled my soul with your passion; 

You tore my heart strings away ; 
Wretched enchantress, who didst fashion 

My whole life in your hands like clay. 

And then, my Lythra, you left me. 
Not granting me one last fond proof 

Which my lone, aching heart, in mis'ry, 
Might hold as a love-balm aloof. 

But I knew the cling of your kisses ; 

I knew your surrender divine ; — 
Now I know how the wand'rer misses 

In the desert a flask of wine. 



[19] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



THE WOOING 

A tiny sunbeam from above 

Tripped gaily on his toes 
Down to earth with shining light 

To woo a little rose. 
She sweetly nodded to his plea, 

Then shyly did disclose 
Her tender bloom for his delight, 

O, happy Uttle rose. 
She learned the warmth of burning love, 

And when her strength was spent. 
Her petals closed, she died content. 

Oh, happy little rose. 



[20] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



LIPS 

Lips, 

Scarlet lips, 

Moist with passion 

Mocking lines without compassion, 

Outstanding veins throbbing the while 

Beckoning, then repulsing with ironic smile ; 

Sensitively rubbed to the point of bleeding 

By the heated sand-paper of Lust, unheeding 

All quenching coolness of mad desire's too sudden reeling. 

Never passes the light of day but that feeling 

Of dire dreadhovers maliciously before my mind 

No eyes glaring, and no form outlined. 

To whom or to what belong 

Those damnable lips of wrong 

Haunting yet adoring me 

To Fame maybe 

Or to— 

Death. 



[21] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



SMOKE 

BACHELOR DIALOGUE 

Jay: So you're going to marry to-morrow, eh? 

Something quite sudden, you decided to-day? 
Let me in on the secret, what's her name? 

Paul: Myrrha Barton of Grand Opera fame. 

By Jove, she's wonderful, old man ... I say 
Got anything to smoke? . . . I'll tell you all 
About her. 

Jay : I've a pipe I bought last Fall. 

Broke it in, smoked it till it got mellow ; 
Sorry I've got nothing better, old fellow. 
Here, if you like it, keep it . . . not at all. 

Paul : Well, to begin with I met her ... a light ? 

Thanks, not a bad taste ... I met her one night 
At a dinner in the usual way; 
One of Fred's gala affairs, you know . . . Jay, 
Why stare at me . . . are you ill? 

Jay : I'm all right. 

Only it's funny. Let's see what was . . . when ? 
In October. That's it. I see . . . and then — 
Go ahead. 

[22] 



EAGLE QUILLS 

Paul: What's the idea of joking? 

Jay : Nothing, only the pipe you are smoking 

Was bought late that same night, and smoked 

again 
But last evening . . . here in this very room. 

Paul : For God's sake, old man, you look like a tomb. 
What's up? 

Jay : You're my very best friend, aren't you ? 

Paul: Yes. 

Jay : Well, that pipe you are smoking, can't you 

See? . . . BURNED out . . cold ashes for a 

bridegroom. 
Here, take a bit of brandy, Paul. 

Paul: Thanks, thanks. 



[23] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



MY CIGARETTE 

When my deeply wearied soul 

Grows tired of Life's monotony, 
When my brain disputes control, 
And all my nerves start mutiny — 
I light a cigarette, 
A quiet cigarette, 
A soothing, soulful, sleepy thing. 

When pleasures crown my day. 

When my heart is filled with bliss, 
I turn from some enchanting lay, 
I leave fond arms and glowing kiss 
To light a cigarette, 
A joyous cigarette, 
A wondrous, warming, wistful thing. 



[24] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



FALL 

Cold gleaming moon with biting ray, 
Bright algid star with steel-blue light, 

Proclaim fond summer's heated play 
Has ceased its round of warm delight. 

Autumnal hue of limb and bough 
Long since has lost its dying charm ; 

No more do farmers guide the plow. 
Nor lovers loiter arm in arm. 

And thus at this time ev'ry year, 
The dread of winter fills the mind. 

For howling blasts will soon appear 
To chill the souls of all mankind. 



[25] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



THE GULL 

White 'gainst the black horizon of the sea, 

Loom the arched wings of the gull 

In solitary flight o'er dull 
Wet lashings of the cold, forbidding sea. 

Over rocks where many a hull 

Is crashed, and many a skull 
Of sailing man is cast up by the sea. 

Swift he flies, through the tempest's lull, 

To his nest where the mother gull. 
Waits with her young for the food snatched from the 
sea. 



[26] 



EAGLE OUILLS 



ANTS 



Most men are like ants, drudging through Hfe, 
Their nose to the grindstone, edging Self's knife; 

Far happier they'd be to give and to claim 
The wealth of thought than the lucre of strife. 



[27] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



SING 

Sing happily, ye bards, of coming spring, 
It lingers but a moment ere it flies — 

So love it when ye may, for ye who sing 
May not be living when the new Spring cries. 



[28] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



THE CROW 

What creature is uglier than a crow, 

With body black as death and hideous beak, 
That shapes the harshness of its preying shriek, 

Shrilling through the air when the sun is low? 

But — did you ever hear the love-note of the crow? 



[29] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



A PHRASE 

A fleeting phrase, I try to clasp 
Ere it passes from my mind, 

But free, it struggles from my grasp, 
Leaving not a trace behind — 
Is not life just such a blind? 



[30] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



A HEALTH 

Here's a health to those we love, 
And the same to those we hate; 
May the sunbeams from above 
Shine alike on friend and foe; 
For when we hear the voice of Fate, 
Side by side we all must go. 



[31] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



TO YOU 

Along with the knocks, my friend, 
Snatch brief pleasures too — 

For when Life is at an end, 
You'll just lie down and say, 
"I'm through." 



[32] 



EAGLE QUILLS 
SOLITUDE 

ACCORDING TO THE NATtJRALIST 

The air grows chill, each wintry cloud 

Descending slowly from its lofty berth, 

Lets fall white, snowy flakes to warm the earth 

And wind it tight in crystal shroud. 

Each growing plant has lost its bloom ; 

The birds, forewarned, in haste, have flown away ; 

While ev'ry insect, snake and beast of prey 

Has crept to its hibernal tomb. 



(33l 



EAGLE QUILLS 



SOLITUDE 

ACCORDING TO THE WIDOW 

Rebellious burns my candle flame, 

As if fatigued from burning far too long 

In vain attempt to cheer me with its song 

And hints of dreams I dare not name. 

I would that I were made of wax, 

Then when my outer self, as now, burns low, 

My inner cord of flame, called soul, might flow 

To him as dreams in sleep relax. 



[34] 



EAGLE QUILLS 



SOLITUDE 

ACCORDING TO THE BACHELOR 

Each midnight hour I pass alone 

Within my stately chamber huge and bleak; 

No warmth glows in my heart, my spirit meek 

Longs for the things it does not own, 

Fair simple things it holds most dear; 

Not jewels, not fame, nor bright gold unblest; 

But a little son at his mother's breast 

And a life at last sincere. 



[35] 



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